The Four Worlds Guiding Principles for Building a Sustainable and

Harmonious World
The Sixteen Principles for building a sustainable and harmonious world community emerged
from a 40-year process of reflection, consultation and action within Indigenous communities
across the Americas. They are rooted in the concerns of hundreds of Indigenous Elders Spiritual
Leaders and Community Members, as well as in the best thinking of many non- Indigenous
scholars, researchers and human and community development practitioners.

These guiding principles constitute the foundation for the process of healing and developing
ourselves (mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually), our human relationships (personal,
social, political, economic, and cultural) and our relationship with Mother Earth. They describe
the way we must work and what we must protect and cherish.

We offer these Guiding Principles as a gift to all who seek to build a sustainable and harmonious
Global community.

PREAMBLE

We speak as one, guided by the sacred teachings and spiritual traditions of the
Four Directions that uplift, guide, protect, warn, inspire and challenge the entire
human family to live in ways that sustain and enhance human life and the lives
of all who dwell on Mother Earth, and hereby dedicate our lives and energies to
healing and developing ourselves, the web of relationships that make our world,
 and the way we live with Mother Earth.
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Starting from within, working in a circle, in a sacred manner, we heal ourselves,

our relationships and our world.
STARTING FROM WITHIN

Human Beings Can Transform Their Worlds

The web of our relationships with others and the natural world, which has given rise to the
problems we face as a human family, can be changed.

Development Comes From Within

The process of human and community development unfolds from within each person,
relationship, family organization, community or nation.

No Vision, No Development
A vision of who we can become and what a sustainable world would be like, works as a powerful
magnet, drawing us to our potential.

Healing Is A Necessary Part Of Development

Healing the past, closing up old wounds and learning healthy habits of thought and action to
replace dysfunctional thinking and disruptive patterns of human relations is a necessary part of
the process of sustainable development.

WORKING IN A CIRCLE

Interconnectedness
Everything is connected to everything else; therefore, any aspect of our healing and development
is related to all the others (personal, social, cultural, political, economic, etc.). When we work on
any one part, the whole circle is affected.

No Unity, No Development
Unity means oneness. Without unity, the common oneness that makes (seemingly) separate
human beings into “community” is impossible. Disunity is the primary disease of community.

No Participation, No Development

Participation is the active engagement of the minds, hearts and energy of the people in the
process of their own healing and development.
 Justice
Every person (regardless of gender, race, age, culture, religion, sexual orientation) must be
accorded equal opportunity to participate in the process of healing and development, and to
receive a fair share of the benefits.

IN A SACRED MANNER

Spirit
Human beings are both material and spiritual in nature. It is therefore inconceivable that human
community could become whole and sustainable without bringing our lives into balance with the
requirements of our spiritual nature.

Morals and Ethics

Sustainable human and community development requires a moral foundation centered in the
wisdom of the heart. When this foundation is lost, morals and ethical principles decline and
development stops.

The Hurt of One Is the Hurt of All: The Honor of One Is the Honor Of All
The basic fact of our oneness as a human family means that development for some at the expense
of well being for others is not acceptable or sustainable.

Authentic Development Is Culturally Based

Healing and development must be rooted in the wisdom, knowledge and living processes of the
culture of the people.

WE HEAL AND DEVELOP OURSELVES, OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR WORLD

Learning
Human beings are learning beings. We begin learning while we are still in our mother’s wombs,
and unless something happens to close off our minds and paralyze our capacities, we keep
learning throughout our entire lives. Learning is at the core of healing and development.

Sustainability
To sustain something means to enable it to continue for a long time. Authentic development does
not use up or undermine what it needs to keep on going.

Move to the Positive

Solving the critical problems in our lives and communities is best approached by visualizing and
moving into the positive alternative that we wish to create, and by building on the strengths we
already have, rather than on giving away our energy fighting the negative.

Be the Change You Want To See

The most powerful strategies for change always involve positive role modeling and the creation
of living examples of the solutions we are proposing. By walking the path, we make the path
visible.